Make your support for Mother Bear Project stretch farther:
Check to see if your company has an employee matching gift program, a giving drive, or an employee volunteer grant or volunteer recognition program.

Ask Cathy Callihan's children what they think of her contribution, crocheting bears for Mother Bear Project.

Kyle, 21: "I would like to thank the Mother Bear Project for providing another avenue for my mom to express the motherly love she has shown me my entire life."

Erin, 19: "My mother's passion and support of the Mother Bear Project is an inspiration to me and to many. She is an incredible woman and I am so very proud of her will and motivation to turn her hobby into something bigger than just something she does to keep her itchy twitchy hands busy"

Konnor, 15, just says she's obsessed.

Whatever your take on her immense contributions to Mother Bear Project, it is clear the art of giving comes naturally to Callihan, and it appears to run in the family.

"My children inspire me to dig deep and do more!" said Callihan. "One of our family values is to use our gifts for good, and each of my children in their own unique way do this. My husband, Craig, is also a partner in my production, as he patiently and readily stuffs my bears."

Callihan's children encourage her creativity. She said she can also always count on them for gifts of yarn and hooks, both of which she needs plenty of as she estimates she is now crocheting her 120th bear, using a skill she learned from her mother 40 years ago to create these gifts.

"My mom taught me how to chain stitch when I was 7 or 8, and I advanced from there," Callihan said. "I was inspired when we visited my great Aunt Sarah and great Aunt Maud and saw their fingers dancing with yarn making beautiful doilies. I knew I wanted to be able to do what they did."

Callihan names each of her bears "Mother Bear Edna Carolyn" to honor her mother (Edna) and mother-in-law (Carolyn), both of whom were also "amazing givers and doers."

"My mom was very creative and giving. She gave selflessly and thus my memories of her inspire me. My mother in law taught sewing and her and her many friends made all kinds of gifts for others. She always welcomed me and made me feel like one of the family. Both of them were strong, faithful and good, believed in me and supported my creativity."

In an effort to spread the joy she gets from her hobby, Callihan has taught coworkers, relatives, and friends how to crochet.

"Crocheting and knitting bears allows us to give back while keeping up with our busy lives," Callihan insists.

She has also applied for and received a sponsorship grant from her work, which has allowed her to enrich the tremendous gift of her bears to children around the world.

"These bears are made and sent with love," she said. "A humble gift from my heart and hands."

Amy's Corner

Dear Friends,

The snow has finally melted here in Minnesota and spring has had a slow start at the Mother Bear Project headquarters. Mother Bears, however, have had no time for hibernation. As I mailed out the 88,000th bear today, I thought how important it is to keep sending these little bears because each one brings a smile and a whole lot of comfort to a child. How simple it is to make a direct difference—to send unconditional love in the form of a bear.

To keep the steady stream of bears coming in and going out, we need your help. Let others know about MBP and how they too can help.

Please like Mother Bear Project on Facebook and join our group on Ravelry to be updated on the project regularly. But most importantly, keep making bears.

Mother Bear Project will have a booth at Stitches Midwest Aug. 8 – 11 in Schaumberg, IL. Stop by the booth with a bear or two and say hello. I would love to meet you!